This is not another essay on apostleship. But it is an essay on letting the Lord's light and our light shine before others. The result. You are blessed!

'Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead — whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him' Acts 5:29-32 (NIV).There's a difference between being 'nice' and being apostolic. It's a difference that all servants of Renewal, all who desire to be in step with Jesus need to understand.

Margaret Waight explains this with great clarity in her small booklet, AS GOD INTENDED ( RENEWAL MINISTRIES). The points she makes below apply to apostles and apostolic ministries.

1. Apostolic people will declare truth that separates light from darkness.
2. Apostolic people set in order. This includes making adjustments in leadership, doctrine, vision and spiritual priorities.
3. Apostolic people desire that all people function in their potential and giftedness in Christ.
4. Apostolic people are risk takers for God. They are pioneers and do things that no one else would do. They are forerunners who break the mould. They see clearly.
5. Apostolic people reform the church so that what God intended becomes reality.
6. Apostolic people will lay down their lives for others. They will spend hours bringing clarity to your confusion. They will go outside what is comfortable for others to have mysteries unlocked so that people may enjoy spiritual break - through.
7. Apostolic people are not normally 'pastoral' people. Their mission is to expand who people are in God. People often react to this anointing by accusing them of not being loving. When they do this it is a denial of the apostolic heart… A pastoral person may make people feel wonderful, often at the cost of being challenged and often at the cost of growth.
8. Apostolic people experience death - spiritually , emotionally and often physically. They live in death and resurrection, ironically because this is what they desire for the church.

The life of Jesus was full of grace and truth. We are to speak the truth in love. God does not say hide the truth in love because this is not love. Hiding truth for any reason, be it for strategic, political or just plain fearfulness is not love. To the extent that we refuse to declare truth we bind the people. Loosing the life of God and binding the 'deadness' of the Enemy is the life work of servants of God. We don't hide lights under the bed. We put them on a pedestal.

The key characteristic of an apostolic ministry is that it speaks the truth no matter what the consequences might be. Such truth does not come from the lowest common denominator or tradition. It is not declared by the 'nice.' It has never come from the establishment. It is conveyed by those who can see. It is imparted by revelation to those who are intimate with the mind of Christ and communicated by those with the capacity and force of character to do so. They do this because they love people enough to liberate them. Liberty seldom emerges without a war. Liberty has to be re-claimed, fought for, taken by force of arms. 'From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it' Matt. 11:12 (NIV). The proclamation of truth comes at a price. This price is usually the wounding of the truth warrior and tumult in the tents of the comfortable.

True servants of God are not people pleasers. They are God pleasers. Jack Deere writes, 'There are people whose highest goal is to please people around them. Therefore they cannot be servants of Christ (Gal 1:10). They are obsessively cautious and constantly worry about offending someone. Rather than endure a confrontation they will compromise the authority of the divine commandments. They weaken ministry by spreading fear and wasting unnecessary time initiating unnecessary discussions regarding the ministry's direction.' ( From the Beginner's Guide to the Gift of Prophecy, by Jack Deere, Servant Publications, 2001).

There's a promise here for ministries, churches, denominations and all who would be fruitful for God. It's a promise that comes at a cost: 'I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds' John 12:24 (NIV). If there is a cost there is also a reward. The reward is that you are 'blessed.' You live under the smile and favour of Jesus. You have a great reward. You make a genuine difference. You are lights that shine brightly.

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Matt. 5:12-15 (NIV)